Greg Abbott Comes Down on the Hypocrisy of Dallas County Government's Overreach

AP featured image
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced the US Army Corps of Engineers and the state are putting up a 250-bed field hospital at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in downtown Dallas during a press conference at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Sunday, March 29, 2020. The space can expand to nearly 1,400 beds. Joining him was former State Representative Dr. John Zerwas (left) and Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner John Hellerstedt, MD. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News via AP, Pool)
Advertisement

If you think Judge Eric Moye of Dallas, Texas, went too far with his punishment of salon owner Shelley Luther, then you’re not alone. Texas Governor Greg Abbott is speaking out against the move and is even calling out the hypocrisy of the decision given Dallas’s approach to crime.

Appearing on Fox News’s Hannity, host Sean Hannity noted that precautions were being taken in places like nail and hair salons, and that opening up business for stylists seems like a doable thing if a balance is struck between working and safety.

Abbott agreed and said this is how Texas is going about things as well but wanted to note that the situation in Dallas is far worse than Hannity thinks.

“There is, Sean, and that is why we are now in Texas opening up things like hair salons and barbershops,” Abbott said. “But Sean, you need to know this: The problem that we’re dealing with is far worse than what you’ve articulated in Dallas County.”

“The Dallas County district attorney announced a policy that he is not going to prosecute any thief who steals things valued at less than $750,” he said. “At the same time, authorities in Dallas are talking about releasing inmates from prison or jail because of the possibility of contracting COVID-19.”

Advertisement

Hannity jumped in, noting that authorities are going to send a woman wearing a mask and practicing safety precautions to jail while they release prisoners who have done far worse out of fears that they’d catch COVID-19.

“That’s not the Texas I know,” said Hannity.

Abbott agreed with Hannity but told him that this isn’t all.

“In Houston, they were issuing fines and potential jail time for anybody who refused to wear a mask,” Abbott said. “Now, as you pointed out, wearing a mask is the best practice. However, no one should forfeit their liberty and be sent to jail for not wearing a mask.”

On Wednesday, Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sent out a statement demanding the release of Luther, adding that the judge’s order “is a shameful abuse of judicial discretion, which seems like another political stunt in Dallas.”

(READ: Greg Abbott and Texas AG Ken Paxton: “Release Ms. Luther Immediately”)

Advertisement

Texas Representative Dan Crenshaw also weighed in, noting that Moye and people like him were “small-minded” and “drunk on power.”

(READ: Dan Crenshaw Has Less Than Kind Things to Say About the Jailing of the Dallas Salon Owner)

The good news is that the outrage around Luther’s jailing has sent a GoFundMe created for her and her salon skyrocketing. As of this writing, the total dollars donated are just over $500,000. That’s a $300,000 increase since yesterday.

Recommended

Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Trending on RedState Videos